Cheshire Native Completes Army Tour in Iraq
Photo by Staff Sgt. Irvine Armand-Robertson
Spc. Marek Gajlewicz, assigned to the 220th Transportation Company, and native of a Bridgeport, Conn., power washes his truck after a muddy mission. |
The company has successfully accomplished more than 150 missions. These missions consisted of transporting loads such as tanks, mine resistant ambush protected vehicles, humvees, and containerized housing units to and from more than 13 Forward Operating Bases, many mission taking up to 21 days to accomplish. The company has driven more than 387,786 miles, and hauled more than 20,000 tons of cargo.
During the last two months of their deployment, the 220th Transportation Company was at its busiest, with nearly the entire company running multiple missions.
"It felt like I spent more time off base than on base," said Spc. Jay Lennon, a Freemont, N.H., native.
To ensure the missions are accomplished to the best of the 220th Transportation Company's abilities, the company’s leaders lead by example and join their soldiers on missions.
"I like my soldiers to see that I don't ask them to do anything I wouldn't do," said Staff Sgt. Michael Tetlow, a native of Cheshire, Mass. "I go on missions as much as possible."
The unit will be passing the torch to their replacement, the 89th Transportation Company out of Fort Eustis, Va., next month. Before leaving, the 220th has helped the 89th Transportation Company transition into its deployment.
"The 220th has shared with us their knowledge and experience they've gained in the past 10 months," said 1st Lt. Matthew Castiglione, executive officer and acting commander of the 89th Transportation Company, and a native of Phoenix, Ariz. "We feel comfortable in taking over and continuing the mission."
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